France’s Science and Theme Park Vulcania Opens Country’s Largest Planetarium Today
© Eiffage
Today marks the start of the new season at the Vulcania science and leisure park in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. To kick off the season, the park’s big novelty also makes its debut today – the country’s largest planetarium, according to its own statements. The new attraction at Vucania was actually supposed to open last anniversary season (20 years of Vulcania), but this was prevented by a fire that broke out during construction work in spring 2022 and severely damaged the new building (cf. EAP 2/2022). This was a bitter setback for the park and its major ten-million-euro project, but one that was overcome thanks to the tireless work of everyone involved.
© © Eiffage
The new planetarium, built in collaboration with RSA Cosmos and Eiffage Construction, aims to impress above all with its modern equipment and an exciting program it has in store for its guests. The planetarium consists of a dome with a diameter of 22 meters, which is equipped with a high-resolution laser projection system (10K) and a 7.1 sound system. The auditorium inside the dome offers more than 300 seats, including six places for people with reduced mobility. Guests will be introduced to the upcoming adventure in a preshow by French science journalist Jamy Gourmaud. Two films will be shown in the planetarium: “VAST – a cosmic journey through space and time” and “Noisettes – in search of the ideal planet” (animated film). In addition, there are two shows performed in the planetarium by the scientific staff of the park. Visitors can learn more about life as an astronaut and the celestial body of the sun in special workshop rooms at the planetarium.
Another highlight this year at Vulcania will also be the month of July, when the park will host for the very first time the Tour de France, which this year will start in Bilbao, Spain and then travel through all the five major mountain ranges of France. Vulcania will be one of the starting points in the 110th edition of the famous stage race. Last year, Vulcania welcomed a total of nearly 326,800 visitors. (eap)
